University of Wisconsin KnowledgeBase

Reporting Research Misconduct

A formal allegation of misconduct in scholarly research should be made to the Research Integrity Officer (RIO) at RIO@research.wisc.edu or 608.262.1044. Allegations may also be made to University administrators, who will then forward it on to the RIO. If an individual is unsure if a suspected incident falls within the definition of research misconduct, that individual may contact the RIO to discuss the suspected research misconduct informally, or even hypothetically. If the circumstances described by the individual do not meet the definition of research misconduct, the RIO will refer the individual or allegation to other offices or officials with responsibility for resolving the problem.

The university will make every effort to protect the privacy of those making an accusation. However, if an inquiry is required, fairness may necessitate revealing the identity of the individual making the accusation to the individual against whom the allegation is made and to the inquiry committee.

Anti-retaliation policy

Consistent with state and federal law and university policy, the university will take all reasonable steps to assure that any person who made an allegation of research misconduct in good faith will not experience retaliation in conjunction with employment at the university.

Policy to Protect Graduate Students and Postdoctoral Research Associates

Graduate students and research associates are among the most vulnerable groups when reporting misconduct. They are often the closest witnesses, and by raising questions of wrongdoing, they may be risking their career progress and sources of financial support. However, the University encourages them to step forward and report any misconduct of which they are aware.